Dashcam footage from a California highway captures a catastrophic incident involving a tractor-trailer, driven by a man believed to be an undocumented immigrant. The crash ultimately led to the death of three individuals as the truck barreled through congested traffic.
The driver, Jashanpreet Singh, 21, had obtained his commercial driver’s license in June, according to the Department of Transportation.
The video depicts Singh’s truck crashing into a line of stationary vehicles, with flames erupting from the engine as it swerved, striking even more cars and seemingly a utility truck before halting near the road’s edge.
Earlier in September, federal regulators alerted California officials about compliance issues regarding these licenses. They required corrective actions, including halting new licenses for noncitizens and ensuring that current licenses adhered to regulations.
For those who didn’t meet the necessary criteria, licenses were to be revoked. Interestingly, on October 15, just days before the crash, Singh turned 21, which meant the limitations on his license were removed, according to Transport officials.
Nonetheless, it was noted that, under an emergency policy from the Department of Transportation, he should have been disqualified from driving.
Warning: Graphic content ahead about the fatal crash involving a truck driven by an undocumented immigrant
Just six days after his birthday, authorities reported that Singh was under the influence of drugs when his semi-truck collided with a line of halted vehicles, resulting in three fatalities.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed condolences, stating, “Our prayers are with the families of the victims of this tragedy.”
Following the incident, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement sought to detain Singh, labeling him a “criminal illegal alien.” He is originally from India and is currently being held in San Bernardino County.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin remarked on the situation, attributing these tragic deaths to “reckless open border policies” that allowed undocumented immigrants to operate heavy vehicles on U.S. roads. She noted a troubling pattern of similar cases, referencing another deadly incident involving an undocumented driver in Indiana earlier that week.
In Florida, a comparable accident occurred recently under similar circumstances.
